Bali Thai Imports at 360 Sniffens Lane, Stratford, offers a selection of items to fill your home — and your closets. “We import from northern Thailand and Bali, Indonesia,” said Michael Ross, owner. “It’s very unusual,” he said of the items in the store. “It’s items you won’t find anywhere else.” From vases to bowls...

It’s Dec. 22 and you’ve just barely made it through half of your holiday shopping list. The panic may have set in that you just don’t have enough time to get everything done. This is a common scenario around the holidays. Shoppers have the best intentions to get their gifts early, but whether because of...

LUSH your loved ones this Christmas

LUSH is a “fresh, handmade cosmetics” company, that invents products from fresh, organic fruit and vegetables, essential oils and safe synthetics. The company believes in buying ingredients only from companies that do not conduct or commission tests on animals and in testing its products on humans. All products are made fresh by hand, using little...

The Glass House Design Store, located at 199 Elm St. in New Canaan in the Glass House Visitor’s Center, was recently renovated and is featuring new products and gifts that make for one-of-a-kind and/or unique Christmas presents for children and adults alike. During December, the store is open Saturdays from 10-5, Monday through Friday by...

Treat your friends and loved ones both near and far to a made-in-Connecticut Christmas gift this year. There are hundreds of products created and sold in the Nutmeg State. From Wiffle Balls to Pez to homemade lotions and potions, toys to tools, and from jewelry to chocolates, one can choose from many items, sold both...

It’s the kind of trail that nearly everyone wants to traverse. And there’s no better time than the holidays to trek near or far within the state to taste a world of chocolate that’s made right here. With one dozen destinations, the Connecticut Chocolate Trail was compiled by the state Office of Tourism. While each...

• Fairfield’s annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony will be held at Town Hall on Friday, Dec. 6. Festivities begin at 5:50 p.m. with the Fairfield Woods, Roger Ludlowe and Tomlinson middle schools chamber choirs singing songs of the season. The Bridgeport Theatre Company and the Fairfield Warde Choral Group will also be performing. Free hot...

A piece of Connecticut will help mark the Christmas season during the tree-lighting ceremony at Rockefeller Center on Dec. 4. The Norway spruce belonging to the Vargoshe family, of Kazo Drive in Shelton, will be decorated and on display for the holiday season. It is 76 feet in height and 47 feet in diameter, and...

At first glance, the Bethlehem, Conn., Christmas Town Festival is the kind of event one would expect to see in nearly any small New England village at the holidays — there’s the giant tree on the green, crafters selling their wares, strolling carolers and musicians, hayrides, and Santa posing for pictures at the firehouse. But...

The most popular Christmas songs

Decorations and shopping are integral parts of the holiday season, but very often it is the music being played over the airwaves that sets the tone for the festivities to come. Christmas music has been enjoyed for decades and certain compositions are widely loved and played year after year. The American Society of Composers, Authors...

Where, when … and even for free!

You don’t have to drive up to Vermont or fly out to the Rocky Mountains to enjoy some good skiing or snowboarding. Connecticut has a few decent ski areas of its own. And with the mountains being so close, families can easily — and affordably — enjoy a day on the slopes during the Christmas...

The timeless holiday classic dances into a town near you

My secret wish is to dance in Tchaikovsky’s “Nutcracker” ballet. It would even be all right if I wasn’t cast as the Sugar Plum Fairy, although I think I would enjoy being lifted high in the air by the handsome Prince during Act II’s romantic pas de deux. No, I would actually prefer to wear...